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The prospective MP said the Tories got their tactics “wrong”, but refused to get carried away with her own chances of toppling Mr Barwell.

“It was quite a significant feat that bodes really well for next year but that doesn’t mean I’m making any assumptions at all,” she said.

Mrs Jones said she was surprised the Conservatives seemed to focus on Addiscombe, where they made small but not significant gains, instead of Ashburton and New Addington, where they ended up losing key seats.

“Their tactics were wrong,” she said. “They targeted Addiscombe relentlessly when actually the real battle was in Ashburton and New Addington. What I don’t understand is how they didn’t recognise that.

“We were in those wards all the time and they would have known that because we were tweeting about it all the time. Yet, aside from the final few days, we didn’t see any Tories at all.

“That they didn’t realise what was happening sooner and then change those tactics was a massive cause of why they did so badly.

"It meant we were able to mobilise more people to get out and vote."

Throughout the campaign Labour made much of its rival’s decision not to write a manifesto. Instead the Conservative Party produced a six-point list of priorities, saying it would run on its “record”.

“It meant they had no message,” said Mrs Jones. “They treated the electorate with so little respect they didn’t even produce a manifesto.

“A manifesto ought to be something you put together in two ways: You talk to people about what the issues are and you consult with your colleagues. They didn’t do either of those two things.

“We talked to people in New Addington and they said sort out the rubbish, get rid of the boulders and get rid of the crime around Central Parade.

“If [the Conservatives] had those conversations with people, maybe they would have known what people’s priorities were. Instead they had nothing to say.”

What rankled with Labour was what the Conservatives seemed more than willing to talk about – the party’s supposed plans for a council tax hike, the background of its candidates in New Addington and accusations that a Labour council would “jeopardise” the £1 billion Westfield/Hammerson scheme.

“They tried to win with fear,” said Mrs Jones. “They said Louisa Woodley (who won in New Addington) is a native of Thornton Heath. They said Labour would put up council tax by 27 per cent. Their leaflets yesterday said [voters] have 24 hours to stop Labour from trashing your town.

“It was completely over the top, utter nonsense and people saw through it."

Mrs Jones added: “Those were reasons I think they lost and, looking at Gavin’s response today, I think there’s a danger for them that they will keep on losing.

“They will keep on losing if they convince themselves it is all down to Ukip. Yes [Ukip] was absolutely a factor, but it’s a worry for all the main parties. Labour lost votes to Ukip as well.”

Based on Thursday’s election results Labour now holds the cards in Central Croydon, albeit by a fine margin. Like her Conservative opponent, Mrs Jones, who is looking to become Croydon’s first female MP, knows there is all to play for.

While refusing to draw too many conclusions from Labour’s success, she believes the 40 – 30 victory gives her a foundation to build on.

“I think it gives me a really strong platform if there is a Labour council delivering the things that I am sure they will,” she said.

“They have various pledges and priorities they are going to do in the first year, like cleaning up the streets. Now they have to deliver.

“I wouldn’t want to make any assumptions. You win a seat like Croydon Central by going from door, to door, to door and talking to people.

“That’s the only way to do it. When there are a lot of people disaffected with politicians as a whole and it is very close, all you can do is take it one voter at a time and try and persuade them to choose you.”

4 comments

WE KNOW WHERE ALL THE TORY NASTIES RESIDED...IN THAT 5 STAR HOTEL WHAT HEY CALL THE TOWN HALL. ADDO WOULD LOVE TO SPLIT FROM THOSE TORY WARDS ...MIDDLE CLASS GHETTO'S OR GAVIN'S GHETTO'S. PEOPLE SHOULD NOT THROW STONES FROM GLASSHOUSES. THEIR'S MORE TAX AVOIDANCE IN GAVIN'S GHETTO'S THAN ISLE OF MAN.

"Mrs Jones, who is looking to become Croydon's first female MP,"
This is partly why we are in the current mess. We voters are just a means to an end for the political hopefuls. Let's see whether she really cares about Croydon over coming months, whether she makes a difference FOR US, or whether, like so many Councillors and young MPs, she is just using us as a stepping stone to greater glory.

'the real battle was in Ashburton and New Addington', i.e. where all the local benefit collectors tend to reside and who knew their only hope of keeping those benefits needed a Labour council! Sadly that means the rest of us will be wrung dry to pay for it all, yet again. Who wants to divide Croydon into two separate Councils then?